IU basketball led by as many as nine points but collapsed in a 72-60 loss to Kentucky at Rupp Arena.
Here are five takeaways from the Wildcats:
The problems with shootings on the road continue
After a poor 8-for-27 3-point shooting performance in a loss to Minnesota on Dec. 3, things got even worse for the Hoosiers in Lexington.
Indiana set the nets on fire against Penn State on Tuesday, finishing 17-for-31 from a distance.
But against an opponent with length, athleticism and determination to challenge most shots and Lamar Wilkerson sitting on the bench for much of the game in foul trouble, the Hoosiers never got off the perimeter after Saturday’s loss.
IU made a season-low four 3-pointers in its first double-digit loss of the season and shot 16.7 percent, also a season-low.
The roster is constructed in such a way that it can accommodate and make a large number of three-pointers. If that doesn’t happen, the results will be ugly.
IU’s turnovers helped fuel Kentucky’s offense
Kentucky’s problems in Saturday’s game were well documented. The Wildcats were desperate to make a run against major competition.
Indiana’s carelessness with the ball was exactly the fuel needed.
The Hoosiers coughed up the ball a season-high 18 and finished with a turnover percentage of 26.9. Entering the game, Kentucky’s opponents had turned it over on just 15.7 percent of possessions, ranking them 269th nationally.
Most of the mistakes were the result of IU’s sloppiness rather than Kentucky’s pressure.
But to their credit, the Wildcats took advantage and scored 23 points off IU’s mistakes. Kentucky won the points from the turnover battle 23-6, a major factor in a 12-point victory.
Hoosiers continue to struggle to finish defensive possessions
Defensive rebounding was seen as a potential Achilles heel entering the season.
The Hoosiers started the season with Reed Bailey from the fifth spot and have switched to Sam Alexis, a better rebounder, over the past two games.
But even when Alexis was on the floor for 30 minutes in Saturday’s loss, Kentucky’s size and athleticism overwhelmed IU on the boards, especially in the second half.
Over the final twenty minutes, the Wildcats grabbed nine offensive rebounds and scored eleven second-chance points.
Before the game, Kentucky defeated Indiana 18-6 in second-chance points.
Indiana needs more consistency from Tayton Conerway
It was a tale of two halves for Tayton Conerway on Saturday night.
The former Sun Belt Player of the Year was solid in the first 20 minutes as IU built a seven-point halftime lead.
The 6-foot-1 guard logged 13 minutes in the first half, scoring seven points and no turnovers while shooting 3-for-4 from the free-throw line.
But Conerway’s struggles in the second half were a problem for the Hoosiers.
He scored four of Indiana’s 12 second-half goals in just 11 minutes. Two of those mistakes happened during a crucial stretch as Kentucky took control of the game. The Hoosiers led by seven, but turned it around on five straight possessions and the Wildcats took the lead for good.
IU will have to overcome some of the mistakes with Conerway, but he needs to make the simple play more consistent when running the offense.
Lamar Wilkerson’s foul trouble is hampering Indiana’s offense
The only player on IU’s roster who had an efficient shooting night was Lamar Wilkerson.
The Sam Houston State transfer was 5-for-11 from the field, including a 2-for-5 mark on 3-pointers and a 3-for-4 mark from the free-throw line.
He finished with 15 points. But a major development for IU was Wilkerson’s inability to stay on the floor for fouls.
The Arkansas native played just 22 minutes due to fouls. He got three in the first half and his fourth early in the second half.
The fourth mistake was a development that IU could not overcome. When he made his fourth at 17:58, the Hoosiers led 42-35. By the time Wilkerson reentered the game with 9:30 to go, Kentucky had the lead and the momentum. During that eight-and-a-half-minute stretch, IU scored just nine points.
(Photo credit: IU Athletics)
See more: Five takeaways, Kentucky Wildcats
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